Arizona official suggests cutting off power to L.A. over boycott on illegal immigration crackdown

A member of an Arizona board that oversees utilities has suggested that they cut power transfers to Los Angeles because of the city's boycott in connection with the state's anti-immigration crackdown.

Gary Pierce, a member of the Arizona Corporate Commission, sent a letter to L.A. officials Tuesday discussing the possibility that Arizona cut power to L.A. from generators in that state. It's unclear whether Pierce's suggestion has any support from other members of the commission -- or whether such a cutoff is legally allowed.

"If an economic boycott is truly what you desire, I will be happy to encourage Arizona utilities to renegotiate your power agreements so Los Angeles no longer receives any power from Arizona-based generation," he wrote in the letter. "I am confident that Arizona’s utilities would be happy to take those electrons off your hands. If, however, you find that the City Council lacks the strength of its convictions to turn off the lights in Los Angeles and boycott Arizona power, please reconsider the wisdom of attempting to harm Arizona’s economy."

Pierce's letter is the latest chatter about some sort of Arizona backlash over the L.A. City Council's boycott vote last week.

Councilman Tom LaBonge told KNBC News that he met with Department of Water and Power officials about the letter on Wednesday. "We have right of ownership of the power plants," he told the station. "We partially own them."

-- Shelby Grad

Photo: AP

Comments

[Jay]

BOYCOTT ARIZONA.

[reefcup]

The letter actually doesn't state that would be willing to cut off the power, but rather that they would be willing to renegociate the current contracts if LA truly wants to boycott Arizona.

[AZsupporter]

WOW! we were joking about LA's power going dark, it may actually happen! millions of Angelinos calling 311 (press 2 for English?) because it's all dark....

I'm ready for a little romantic candle light dinner and stargazing, for the good cause of the great state of AZ, let's get LACC officials to stop the immature boycott the hard way!

I'm ready for all my fridge food to go rotten if we can pass sb1070 right here in LA where we have illegals everyhere

[Bob]

I want to move to Arizona

[kristin]

If the city of Los Angeles really wants to boycott Arizona, then they should voluntarily stop receiving electricity from that state. If they don't, then this "boycott" has very little substance behind it.

[Bill]

What a bunch of idiots we have as City Council members. LA's fiscal situation is a nightmare and they are spending their time on issues irrelevant to us.

[oc_moderate]

This is just getting rediculous. What's next? Our California National Guard against their Guard? Stupid, seriously.

[JimL]

I guess for the folks in LA, it's time to put-up... or shut-up... if you're in favor of boycotting Arizona, then take it to the full extent... and boycott the electricity that's produced within the Arizona state borders.

[tw]

No wonder our Country is in trouble...we have IDIOTS in office....our LA City Council, as well as our Mayor are first class Morons....Arizona, turn off the switch!!!!!

[Bruno]

Electricity is a piker. Wait till the rest of country starts boycotting Hollywood products. If Hollywood takes a hit, this city is going belly up. "Progressives" are determined to destroy every last bit of wealth in the city.

[I LOVE LA]

Thank you Ed Reyes and Janice Hahn for getting us in a state war we did't want. Hope you sweat it out this summer too!

[Ramon]

IF THEY WANT TO BOYCOTT AZ THEY SHOULD BOYCOTT EVERYTHING FROM AZ. I DON'T THINK THE L.A. CITY COUNCIL HAVE THE GUTS...

[I LOVE LA]

Thank you council Ed Reyes and Janice Hahn for getting L.A. in a power struggle with Arizona. Now that the city has no money, we will have no power too. How long are you in office?

[KRO]

I think it's absolutely ridiculous that the city of Los Angeles is getting involved in a state's affairs. They're two completely separate levels of government and they have no right to repremand Arizona's decision. I don't neccasarily agree or disagree with Arizona's decision, but LA is just making the whole matter worse. Boycott LA!

[JackBower]

This proves L.A.'s Boycott Arizona move is all for show. If they were really serious, they'd do it 100% and give up Arizona electricity, water and everything else. Hypocrites!!

[stu]

GO ARIZONA!!! stand up for your rights and lead the nation against illegal immigration. The people are with you everywhere.

[ALBERT MORENO]

I HOPE Arizona goes through with this threat to cut off electricity to LA!! Living in Shasta County, this would not affect me ONE BIT!! I would love to see Arizona follow through as this boycott is ridiculous in the first place. Since we here generate our own electricity here, I'm thinking our own city council should review the current rates we sell to LA County in the event Arizona pulls out! Oh well, gotta run! Time to buy a Diamondbacks' ballcap!

[Yay4AZ]

Good for Arizona!!! They have every right to defend their borders and their homes. If an intruder breaks into someone's house would it be OK with anybody if the intruder then says "well, now that I'm in your house, you have to take care of me. Oh and by the way, put my name on your house deed too". Who would be OK with that!!!

If AZ wants to stop doing business with LA because LA threatened to boycott them, then good for AZ.

[coffee_drip]

That's ok. Californians get plenty of energy from San Onofre. We aren't the 8th largest economy in the world for nothing. This reminds me of the Lakers/Suns match up. Arizona, you have no chance against us. Boycott on!

[DM]

More "Power" to AZ! Go Arizona! An LA Resident who is sick of what our so-called politicians have done to what used to be this Great State of CA!

[dgo]

The federal government has the final say with interstate commerce, buying and selling of electricity across state lines. Not to mention the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power owns 5.7% of the Palo Verde power plant in Arizona. Southern California Edison owns another 15.8%. Pierce can talk all he wants but nothing is going to come of it. It's painfully obvious that he is doing this for publicity.

In the end Arizona would end up losing more than Los Angeles.

[Dario]

If you cut power to L.A., we'll be forced to bounce the Suns out of the NBA playoffs in four games, costing your state billions of dollars in revenue from pitchers of beer, and chicken wings. Take that, Gary Pierce.

[Lazy_I]

With each successive shot fired between LA and Arizona, LA (and same with San Diego in their AZ boycott) just keeps looking more and more stupid. Reading the comments on this story it appears the citizens are much more sensible than the government leaders.

I'm not from CA or AZ, but watching this unfold is fascinating. LA is showing itself to be more and more bark, and less and less bite.

I feel for you citizens.

[Katherine]

L.A. sucks.

[Winfield Scott]

Arizona can shut cut off California's water also (the Colorado River). Cut the power, divert it to pumps in the river, and leave California with nothing until its political hacks pledge allegiance to the United States of America instead of to Mexico.